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Rameshjeee

Intel Core i7 launched

It is here; the Intel Core 17 processors have finally been launched worldwide. As part of the worldwide launch there was also a lavishly arranged function here in Mumbai at the Taj President on Tuesday.

Intel has delivered the fastest desktop processor on Earth to the most demanding users on Earth, the ones who are using their PCs for video, gaming and music. When you couple, what is Intel's biggest leap in chip design, with other incredible innovations like Intel's solid state drives, the Core i7 processor has refined the computer of tomorrow".

Based on a completely new architecture, the Core i7 processors are markedly different from their predecessors and have many advantages over them. There is the increased parallelism with the processor being capable of executing 33% more concurrent micro-ops simultaneously.

There is also the faster unaligned cache access and faster synchronization primitives. Intel has also implemented a new 2nd level branch predictor to avoid situations when execution units stand idle. Yet another improvement is the cache sub-system that has been redesigned from scratch.

There is a 2nd level 512 entry translation look-aside buffer (TLB) in addition to the 1st level TLB to reduce the TLB miss rate. In addition to this, there is also three-level cache hierarchy: 64KB L1 (32KB for data and 32KB for instructions), 256 KB L2 cache per core, 8 MB L3 cache (2 MP per core) shared by all cores. This is different from what Intel used to do until now - all cache on the processor.

The Core i7 processor also marks an end of the legendary FSB (Front Side Bus). These processors feature the new Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) bus, which is Intel's answer to AMD's Hypertransport 3.0 and a three channel memory controller supporting 1066 MHz DDR3 memory is present on-chip.

Multi-threading technology (similar to hyper-threading of the NetBurst architecture processors) is also featured on these CPUs with SSE 4.2 instructions. These are capable of handling up to eight software threads on four processor cores. With a TDP rated at 130 W, these also have energy-saving features and you can shut down unwanted cores to reduce power consumption.

Turbo Boost technology allows the cores to bump up the clock speeds when deemed necessary. This quad-core chip is manufactured using the 45nm process, sporting 731 million transistors.

Combined with the Intel X58 chipset-based motherboards with LGA1366 socket, these are incompatible with older motherboards. Currently, these can only be used with motherboards based on the Intel X58 chipset.


Intel has released three different models of the Core i7 - all quad core variants with hyper-threading :

• Core i7 920 clocked at 2.66 GHz priced at $284 (approximately Rs.14,063),
  
• Core i7 940 clocked at 2.66 GHz priced at $562 (approximately Rs.27,830),
  
• Core i7 965 XE (Extreme Edition) clocked at 3.2 GHz priced at $999 (approximately Rs.49,470)

(Prices are per unit in lots of 1000)

More Info on InteL Core i7:
Link 1
Link 2

The Sorcerer

Somebody allready got the nehalem board in India 2 months ago. One is a pretty famous Indian based liquid nitro overclocker who got gigabyte x58 board and another one has it for reviews. I

internet_guy

i am sure prices will come down rapidly once a new motherboard technology comes

The Sorcerer

I am more concerned about high latency in rams and extremely high TDP in the core is what is on my mind. changing from 800/1000 mhz on OC to ddr3 system and using 1333mhz and 1600mhz rams is practically silly. They need to make 2000mhz as standard and bring down the timings on the new chip if people migrate from ddr2 to ddr3.

ShAdOwCoN

I would not recommend buying corei7 processors yet ....... Cause faster processors "Westmere" also known as Nehalem-c will be released next year [2009]

And Processors based on a totally new architecture "SandyBridge " will be released in 2010 .

So if you buy corei7 now by 2010 it ll be badly outdated .

kissme

these are beautiful

The Sorcerer

I wasnt. I allready have a pretty good system .

kissme

these ones are beautiful

thats_me

Cool. Lets wait and see whats next.

The Sorcerer

Phenom II have given some good results. 3.6 ghz on air overclock and according to previews they scale very well compared to the i7 processors. These are engineering samples though, so retailing can be better.

newprouser

really wish intel had implemented the QPI arch earlier, AMD has had it for ages, now i hav 2 hav 2 wait for another few yrs to upgrade

thats_me

Yea I'll wait before upgrading too. Reasons : for i7 prices to fall or newer products to come out. And DirectX 11 to be released. Then I'll buy a whole new PC... no upgrades.

Admin

Once upon a time I used to buy a new desktop or a laptop with every other new technology launch... learnt my lessons and spent a fortune on these boxes.
I try staying atleast 2 years behind the latest technology and this ensures I save a lot of money and get the best tried and tested products

I have a desktop with D820 2.8Ghz processor and Ive just upgraded the ram on this box does everything for me... cleaning, washing and even gets a cup of tea for me in the morning

ShAdOwCoN

Intel will again release Precoessors based on an architecture thats newer than the Corei7's Nehalem architecture , This will make corei7 outdated within 2 years of its release .... People who want to upgrade should wait for a while and see which processor becomes mainstream before u upgrade .

newprouser

whats the new architecture going to be ? This one has been in the news for atleast over a year, could it possibly be replaced so soon ?

ShAdOwCoN

The new Architecture is 'Sandy Bridge' .... They started devoloping it in 2006 ... i am surprised u were not aware of it as its quiet an old news

The answer to your question ... i ll quote wiki

newprouser

Yea i had no clue about this new architecture. wow.

I guess then technology will be a double edged sword , since we can enjoy new technolgy makes older products cheaper and at the same time the shorted life period will make our peripherals obselete very soon.

ShAdOwCoN

Exactly

rajan1311

Even when AMD had it 4 YEARS Intel ended up doin a LOT better than them .

the next processor will basically be a die shrink and a few minor changes (may be more cache,etc). I m guessing seeing their tick-tock charts.

newprouser

I would be nice if you could give more details as to why, I don't see any difference in their architectures anyway..